Texas State hosts 2nd annual E-Waste Collection event

Posted by Jayme Blaschke University News Service April 6, 2010

Texas State University-San Marcos will team with the City of San Marcos and the university’s hazardous waste disposal company, PSC Environmental, to host the 2nd annual E-Waste Collection/Recycle Event April 17.

The event will run from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Bobcat Stadium parking lot at the intersection of Aquarena Springs Drive and Post Road. The collection event is once again being offered to San Marcos residents and all of Hays County free of charge.

More than 20,000 pounds of used electronic waste was collected during the 2009 event. Electronic waste (called E-Waste) includes televisions and monitors computers, computer peripherals, audio/stereo equipment, VCRs, DVD players, video cameras, telephones, fax and copying machines, cell phones, video game consoles, as well as cords, extra CDs and DVDs. University-owned electronics cannot be recycled at this event as there is already a state-approved process for returning these items through Texas Staet's Materials Management Department.

Microwave ovens, appliances, batteries, fluorescent bulbs or household hazardous waste will not be accepted at the event and should not be brought.

E-Waste is the fastest growing segment of municipal trash according to EPA. In 1998, more than 20 million personal computers alone became obsolete and only 13 percent were recycled or reused. Electronic waste contains hazardous materials such as lead, mercury, cadmium and chromium. Television and cathode ray tubes (CRTs) contain about four pounds of lead. These toxic metals can contaminate drinkable ground water if released in landfill leachate. The good news is that electronic waste is made of valuable materials that are highly recyclable including steel, glass, plastic and precious metals.

This free event is made possible for our community through the collaborative efforts of many Texas State departments, the City of San Marcos, GBRA, PSC Environmental, corporate sponsors and numerous volunteers. The materials will be recycled by reuse of certain items and demanufacturing items that are at end-of-life. Demanufacturing will take place in the United States following stringent environmental regulations.

For more information or to volunteer for this event, please contact the Texas State Environmental Health Safety and Risk Management Office at (512) 245-3616. Visit the Texas State IT website to learn how to remove personal information from electronic devices at http://security.vpit.txstate.edu/awareness/recycling_idtheft.html.